Arriving in style

Let’s face it, holidays are an exercise in escapism. We want to get away from the weather, everyday life, depressing news, all that DIY we ought to be doing... so here’s the ultimate escapist fantasy. What better way, asks John Kerswill, of avoiding the airport crush than to drive down to a Mediterranean villa in a Maserati?

See those patches of new tarmac? That’s where they mended the track after the explosions in Casino Royale.” Yes, we’re truly in James Bond territory here. Sadly not in some sun-soaked millionaire’s playground, but at a windswept test track overlooking the brickworks of Bedfordshire.

To be honest, I’ve seen enough of the Millbrook test track – and the route from Somerset to Bedfordshire – to last several lifetimes. A decade or so ago, when I produced road tests for a car magazine, I had to take test cars to Millbrook most weeks to measure performance figures. Any initial glamour soon wore off. But there’s one bit I’ll never tire of. Back then, one magical section of track was known prosaically as the hill route; now it’s the more glamorous Alpine route. But it remains the same: sinuous, challenging, alternately climbing and plunging, with blind brows, off-camber corners and multiple opportunities to make a fool of yourself. Especially when it’s raining and you’re in a 400 bhp Maserati GranTurismo.

It’s a tribute to the electronic wizardry of MSP – the Maserati Stability Programme – that I was able to enjoy all those 400 horses without coming to grief. Because the great thing about the GranTurismo is that while it looks gorgeous and will go indecently fast if you want it to, it is as easy, safe and straightforward to drive as, say, a BMW 530d.

Maserati is one of the great names in motoring history. The 250F, driven by Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, was the classic 1950s front-engined formula 1 car – remaining examples are worth millions. But the glory days ebbed away, until, with the company on its last legs, former arch-rival Ferrari rode to the rescue. The resulting investment, and access to Ferrari’s engineering resources, has led to a resurgence in the company’s fortunes. Stars are lining up to be seen in the cars and worldwide sales have grown from 3,000 in 2003 to over 7,000 last year.

The current range includes just two models, the Quattroporte (starting at £77,215) and the £78,500 GranTurismo. If you’re sufficiently well funded and want a luxury saloon that will whisk four people across the continent in great comfort and offers a lot of exclusivity – only 270 will be sold in the UK this year – the Quattroporte would be ideal. It goes like stink and looks good, but I found the ride and handling a bit lollopy for my taste. Maybe there was something wrong with the computer controlled ‘Skyhook’ suspension: the journalist who drove the car after me felt there was something “very peculiar” about the handling.

The GranTurismo feels altogether sportier, though its 4.2 litre V8 engine produces only fractionally more power than the Quattroporte’s (405bhp against 400). That’s enough for a top speed of 177mph, with 0-62mph taking 5.2 seconds. Needless to say, cruising at any remotely legal speed is effortless.

Surprisingly, automatic transmission is standard with no alternative on offer. But the 6-speed ZF unit works really well, with fast shifts and none of the slow, slurring feel of traditional automatics.

Just how well it works was demonstrated around that Alpine route, as confidence increased and I used more and more of the performance. The great thing is that, as you brake hard for those tight corners – far harder than you would ever brake on the road – the transmission smoothly shifts down to the right gear for the corner, ready to rocket you away again on the exit.

I confirmed how good the brakes are when, on Millbrook’s mile straight, I braked as hard as I could at 140mph. On a wet track, the car slowed rapidly and undramatically, with no pulsing from the ABS and only the slightest hint of weaving as the stability programme coped with extra-slippery patches.

Driving like this is great if you like that sort of thing, but the real point is to discover how a car will behave in the extreme conditions that most owners will never encounter – whether the car is a Fiesta or a Ferrari. And what I discovered about the GranTurismo is that it really would make a wonderful way of crossing continents. It even has two proper seats in the back, though legroom is limited.

Did I forget to mention fuel consumption? Well, no 405bhp car is ever going to win green medals, and the GranTurismo’s overall consumption of 19.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 345g/km put it straight onto Alistair Darling’s hit list. But it’s still probably a greener way of going on holiday than catching a plane, so you could always forget those winter holidays in Australia or the Caribbean and spend the money on a Maserati for getting down to Marbella. You’d certainly have more fun travelling.

Oh well, fantasy over. Time to get in my Fiat Doblo and head for home...